The West Somerset Railway is looking for volunteers to help them prepare for their brand new running season over the coming weeks.

The new season begins at the end of March.

This heritage railway has a big programme of track renewals, permanent way work, a locomotive fleet to prepare, and a range of ROGS procedures and standards work to make sure the 19th-century line is up to 21st century standards.

There is a programme of coach painting under way.

When the railway coaches emerge from the paint shops, they will need a thorough clean:

• Windows internal and external
• Upholstery
• Tabletops
• Floors
• Lighting fitments
• Cobwebbing
• Lavatories

If you can help organise any of the above, please contact the WSR on [email protected]

There is a lot of other opportunities to help the railway. At Minehead the general office is looking rather tired and could do with a lick of paint, please contact [email protected] if you would liek to help

Along the line, there are tasks everywhere, here are just a few. If no contact is listed, please email [email protected]

• Minehead Station
  • Repainting
  • Weeding
• Dunster Goods Shed
  • Clearing gutters
  • Big repaint
  • Contact: [email protected]
• Dunster Station and Environs
  • Help to tidy up the walkway and gates from station to Dunster Sea Lane Level Crossing.
• Blue Anchor
  • Replacement of the historic board that says Beware of Catch Points and re-fix.
  • Specialist work
  • Contact: [email protected] 
• Washford
  • Clear undergrowth from both Bridges
    • Contact: [email protected]
  • Painting Platform White Line
    • Contact: [email protected] 
• Williton
  • Site tidy up
  • Re-painting of Swindon Shed Doors
  • Contact: [email protected]

The remaining tasks are perfect for people who enjoy being out of doors:

• Stogumber
  • Removal of old gardening sheds/ greenhouse
  • Cutting back behind Platform to enable monitoring of slope.
  • Painting Platform White Line
• Crowcombe
  • Undergrowth removal from both overbridges
    • Contact: [email protected]
  • Painting Platform White Line
    • Contact: [email protected]
• Bishops Lydeard
  • Loco Shed tidy up
    • Contact: [email protected]
  • Filling Potholes in Car Park
    • Contact: [email protected]
  • Assisting RAMs in Blackmore House.
• Norton Fitzwarren Triangle Site
  • Painting Platform White Line and Site tidy up of track work (excluding Luffmans’ Site!)
  • Contact: [email protected]
• P Way
  • Blue Anchor Relay
    • Help on site
    • Wet Weather Gear required
      • Contact: [email protected]
• Engineering
  • Help with 9351 at Williton
    • Contact: [email protected]
  • Help with Carriages 4260 and 5002 currently in the workshop
• Commercial
  • – Help with Leaflet distribution around Somerset.
    • Contact: [email protected]
• Scrap Trains
  • Help on scrap trains to earn the railway some well-needed cash
    • Contact: [email protected]

For more information on any of the opportunities, please contact the West Somerset Railway.

Where Next?

News Homepage
   For the Latest Railway News
RailAdvent Online Shop
   Framed Prints, DVD’s / Blu-Ray’s and more
LocoStop Community
   Come and share your railway pictures
West Somerset Railway
   Visit their website